LifesGood Posted March 1, 2023 Share Posted March 1, 2023 (edited) I agree the glass product looks fantastic. My concern with banning manufactured stone is that the industry may come up with other products that turn out to be just as - or more - dangerous. The resistance to regulation and oversight in the whole building industry is such a problem. Its why we have brand new high rise apartment buildings that are essentially unsafe for habitation. Speaking of which, did you see the Nassif family (owners of Toplace development company) are in more legal jeopardy? https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-01/sydney-property-developer-daughter-charged-over-fraud-scheme/102036934 Edited March 1, 2023 by LifesGood 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaitForMe Posted March 1, 2023 Share Posted March 1, 2023 15 hours ago, Hills Mum Bec said: Not sure about plastic but you can get benchtops made from recycled glass and they look pretty much the same as engineered stone but without the silica. https://www.bettastone.com.au/ Looks like they are in all Lush stores, I'll have to check them out next time I'm in/near one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gumbette Posted March 1, 2023 Share Posted March 1, 2023 (edited) Maybe importers / sellers need a licence to cut, much like an alcohol licence now. You can't afford to put in the proper safety regulations to protect your workers? Tough, no licence for you. Edited March 1, 2023 by Gumbette 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gumbette Posted March 1, 2023 Share Posted March 1, 2023 14 hours ago, Kiwi Bicycle said: This makes me so angry. I have worked in the safety equipment and PPE industry. The stuff is out there, been there for years. Gee my cousin who is a commercial welder is bloody minded about it and wore his full welding helmet and powered respirator when doing a small metal cut for us. Wear a fringing respirator suitable for purpose and eyewear. Wear disposable overalls or have overalls you don't bring home and chuck in the washing machine, and just store in a sealed bag. It really simple. All dust is an irritant, not just silica. Just like all inhaled smoke is not supposed to be in your lungs. That won't fix all the issues. If you dry cut it lingers for hours in the air. Goes home with them on their clothes. This poor woman wasn't even cutting, eyewear & a fringing respirator for the 8 hours when you're in the office isn't feasible. Besides not all employers supply the correct PPE. We know, we've seen it during Covid when medical staff couldn't access the proper PPE. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-20/unions-call-for-engineered-stone-ban-over-silicosis-in-workers/102000226 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Bicycle Posted March 1, 2023 Share Posted March 1, 2023 (edited) 8 minutes ago, Gumbette said: That won't fix all the issues. If you dry cut it lingers for hours in the air. Goes home with them on their clothes. This poor woman wasn't even cutting, eyewear & a fringing respirator for the 8 hours when you're in the office isn't feasible. Besides not all employers supply the correct PPE. We know, we've seen it during Covid when medical staff couldn't access the proper PPE. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-20/unions-call-for-engineered-stone-ban-over-silicosis-in-workers/102000226 Yes I know. I was more talking about all the other people upthread, who are not using PPE at all in their jobs. Cutting wood, cutting whatever, wear PPE. PPE is everywhere for trades. You can buy it from Bunnings. Like your workboots, why wouldn't you buy a $ 30 respirator to protect yourself. People also need to take personal responsibility for their own safety as well. Edited March 1, 2023 by Kiwi Bicycle 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purpentine Posted March 1, 2023 Share Posted March 1, 2023 1 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gumbette Posted March 1, 2023 Share Posted March 1, 2023 @purpentine a rather random post for this thread. Is there a hidden meaning that I'm missing? 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaitForMe Posted March 1, 2023 Share Posted March 1, 2023 Cuteness bomb! 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Bicycle Posted March 2, 2023 Share Posted March 2, 2023 They are watching out for your safety! 2 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purpentine Posted March 2, 2023 Share Posted March 2, 2023 Aw shit. Was supposed to be the what did your animal do... 2 1 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gumbette Posted March 2, 2023 Share Posted March 2, 2023 4 minutes ago, Kiwi Bicycle said: They are watching out for your safety! No PPE though? I told you they were hard to get hold of. 2 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifesGood Posted March 2, 2023 Share Posted March 2, 2023 The problem is you can regulate and legislate up the wazoo but unless you enforce, inspect, penalise there will always be dodgy operators who ignore the rules. 8 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basil Posted March 2, 2023 Share Posted March 2, 2023 47 minutes ago, LifesGood said: The problem is you can regulate and legislate up the wazoo but unless you enforce, inspect, penalise there will always be dodgy operators who ignore the rules. Yep. We had a builder who offered to remove asbestos for us at a better price than the specialists, for a cash discount - wink, wink, nudge, nudge. We politely declined and chose a different builder for the building component of the job too. 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yogaalaates Posted March 2, 2023 Share Posted March 2, 2023 I originally wanted engineered stone, not knowing about silicosis. The kitchen designer steered me well away from it, said it was overrated and gave his reasons why. I’m not about to list his reasons (find another whipping post) but I’m glad we didn’t get it. Apologies if this was already mentioned, but the ABC had a news story last week on this topic. One of those diagnosed with silicosis was an administration worker in her 20s, working at a quarry in Victoria. She was working 90m away from where it was being crushed. On 28/2/2023 at 2:54 PM, Bornagirl said: I'm lowering the standard of my suburb by having chosen laminate. I hate hard, cold surfaces, and prefer not to have timber. We just have laminate. I’m very happy with it. And a friend got timber-look laminate. It looks great! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadoodle Posted March 2, 2023 Share Posted March 2, 2023 6 hours ago, Kiwi Bicycle said: Yes I know. I was more talking about all the other people upthread, who are not using PPE at all in their jobs. Cutting wood, cutting whatever, wear PPE. PPE is everywhere for trades. You can buy it from Bunnings. Like your workboots, why wouldn't you buy a $ 30 respirator to protect yourself. People also need to take personal responsibility for their own safety as well. There’s also a lack of enforcement around the disposal of used PPE in some workplaces. If you bring back the problem on your clothes and shoes, or bring your clothing covers home to wash, then your family is at risk too. So many women developed lung conditions due to prolonged exposure to asbestos in the laundry. 5 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not So Retro Posted March 2, 2023 Share Posted March 2, 2023 6 hours ago, Kadoodle said: There’s also a lack of enforcement around the disposal of used PPE in some workplaces. If you bring back the problem on your clothes and shoes, or bring your clothing covers home to wash, then your family is at risk too. So many women developed lung conditions due to prolonged exposure to asbestos in the laundry. @kadoodle, that would be my Mother....2 months from hospitalisation to death from mesothelioma. Certainly not a perk of being the wife of a carpenter who built house in the 50s and early 60s..... 5 11 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozgirl Posted March 2, 2023 Share Posted March 2, 2023 7 hours ago, Yogaalaates said: And a friend got timber-look laminate. It looks great! This is what I have. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadoodle Posted March 2, 2023 Share Posted March 2, 2023 18 minutes ago, Not So Retro said: @kadoodle, that would be my Mother....2 months from hospitalisation to death from mesothelioma. Certainly not a perk of being the wife of a carpenter who built house in the 50s and early 60s..... I’m so sorry. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Bicycle Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 Just resus this thread as I read about what is happening in NZ. So one manufacturer/ supplier is making anyone wanting to buy their product( to onsell to the consumer) to become accredited to cut correctly. Plus they are moving towards a 40% silica content, rather than 70%, which is safer. A much more sensible solution. https://i.stuff.co.nz/business/131820506/major-engineered-stone-supplier-to-cut-off-fabricators-who-dont-protect-workers-from-toxic-dust-that-causes-incurable-silicosis 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Escapin Xmas Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 It’s like lead based paint. We don’t need it. It’s poisonous. So it should be banned. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozgirl Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 7 minutes ago, Not Escapin Xmas said: It’s like lead based paint. We don’t need it. It’s poisonous. So it should be banned. Agree. im sure people just wanted asbestos to be reduced not banned… will look back on this as insanity. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
null Posted November 14, 2023 Author Share Posted November 14, 2023 Looks like Bunnings will stop selling engineered stone by the end of this year. I wonder if this will prompt other buinesses to follow their lead? https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-14/bunnings-to-stop-sale-of-engineered-stone/103104374 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Bicycle Posted November 14, 2023 Share Posted November 14, 2023 5 minutes ago, null said: Looks like Bunnings will stop selling engineered stone by the end of this year. I wonder if this will prompt other buinesses to follow their lead? https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-14/bunnings-to-stop-sale-of-engineered-stone/103104374 It's dumb. So the union goes after a company that just sells the product, not the companies who manufacture or import the stuff. How many builders or kitchen companies actually buy it from Bunnings? Very few. I know my Freedom kitchen didn't. So the poor Bunnings retail staff have to cop the union protests. The union should of protested outside Wesfarmers HO, because that's where the decision makers are.The unions don't want to do anything to the big guys, because, hey they probably employ the union members sooo yeah, go after a retail outlet instead. So smart. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gumbette Posted November 14, 2023 Share Posted November 14, 2023 The cynic in me thinks that it will be banned in Australia soon anyway and Bunnings now looks like a good corporate citizen by leading the way. Not that it's a bad thing. I think once the ban is in place they'll find a safer, cost effective product, manufacturers have just been lazy because it's not their life on the line. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bornagirl Posted November 14, 2023 Share Posted November 14, 2023 Retail outlets making kinda involuntary moves make headlines, so more people get to learn about its danger, which will follow through to people rejecting it. In the long run, the move by Bunnings will make little difference, but the headlines might. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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